Look Back To 1961: What Happened That Year
The Beatles started playing the Cavern and Yuri Gagarin went into space.
Here's 1961 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.
Milestone birthday cards, drawn and printed by us
Funny and warm birthday cards, blank inside, printed in the UK with kraft envelopes. Order on a working day and it usually goes out the same day.
Happy Birthday Papa (Happy Birthday Card) (Multiple designs)
£3.87
Happy Birthday Bab (Happy Birthday Card) (Multiple designs)
£3.87
Yoda Best Multi-Occasion Greeting Card
£3.87
Happy Birthday Handsome (Happy Birthday Card) (Multiple designs)
£3.87
You Old Bastard (Funny Birthday Card)
£3.87
Happy Birthday Card For The World's Best Sister-in-Law
£3.87
In the charts in 1961
- Elvis Presley's 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' and 'Wooden Heart' were both number ones.
- The Shadows' 'Kon-Tiki' and Helen Shapiro's 'Walkin' Back to Happiness' were among the year's biggest.
- Danny Williams's 'Moon River' was number one at Christmas.
In the news in 1961
- Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space on 12 April.
- The Berlin Wall was built in August.
- The contraceptive pill became available on the NHS, initially to married women.
On screen in 1961
- The Avengers began on ITV.
- West Side Story and Breakfast at Tiffany's were released.
- Songs of Praise started on the BBC.
In sport in 1961
- Tottenham Hotspur won the league and FA Cup double.
- The maximum wage for footballers was abolished.
- Stirling Moss was still the driver everyone knew.
Everyday life in 1961
- The Beatles played the Cavern Club in Liverpool for the first time in February.
- Coffee bars, skiffle's aftermath and rock and roll records ran youth culture.
- Postcodes were being trialled in Norwich.
If you were born in 1961
- Anyone born in 1961 arrived the year the first person went into space.
- They were five at the 1966 World Cup.
- Anyone born in 1961 turns 30 in 1991, 40 in 2001, 50 in 2011, 60 in 2021 and 70 in 2031.
- For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
- For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.
How to write it so it lands
- The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
- Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
- Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.
Where to shop next
- Look back to 1964
- Look back to 1963
- Look back to 1962
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- The 1960s: the whole decade
- 1960s party playlist
- Playground games by region
- Knock down ginger
- Conkers rules
- Marbles rules
- School dinners we all remember
- The 2020s so far
- The 2010s: the whole decade
- The 2000s: the whole decade
- The 1990s: the whole decade
- The 1980s: the whole decade
- The 1970s: the whole decade
- The 1950s: the whole decade
- The 1940s: the whole decade
- The 1930s: the whole decade
- The 1920s: the whole decade
- Decade calendar: every year from 1920
- Decade trivia: fun facts by era
- Decade trivia game: play for points
- Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
- Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
- Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
- Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
- Decade films: best movies and directors by era
- Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
- Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
- Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
- Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
- Nostalgia gift shop
- Retro party supplies
- Nostalgia birthday party by decade
- Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
- Guess the year quiz
- Care home reminiscence quiz
- Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
- Milestone birthday cards
- Shop birthday cards
- Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
- How to make a balloon arch
- Photo booth prop ideas
- Pin badges
- All guides
Frequently asked questions
Who was the first person in space?
Yuri Gagarin, on 12 April 1961.
What was number one at Christmas 1961?
'Moon River' by Danny Williams.
How old is someone born in 1961?
Subtract 1961 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2001, 50 in 2011, 60 in 2021 and 70 in 2031.
Do you sell anything to do with this year?
We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.